Meet our lifeguards

RNLI lifeguards patrol over 240 beaches in the UK and the Channel Islands. They are qualified in lifesaving and casualty care, highly trained and strong and fit - able to swim 200m in under 3½ minutes and run 200m on sand in under 40 seconds.

Photo: Nigel Millard

Lifeguard monitoring the beach at Scarborough from the 4x4 patrol vehicle.

A good lifeguard rarely gets wet - 95% of a lifeguard's work is preventative. They monitor sea conditions and set up the appropriate flags, watch the people on the beach and offer safety advice both on the beach and in classrooms through our education programmes.

Most RNLI lifeguards are paid by the relevant local authority to maintain patrols on our busiest beaches, but we also have volunteer lifeguards. Our lifeguard support volunteers help lifeguards with duties on land, such as lookout, radio communications and casualty care.